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'''Gojoseon''' ("ancient" Joseon, to distinguish from the later ]) was the first ]n kingdom. According to legend, it was founded in ] by ] in the basins of the ] and ] Rivers, ruling over northern ] and southern ] until ]. '''Gojoseon''' ("ancient" Joseon, to distinguish from the later ]) was the first ]n Empire. According to legend, it was founded in ] by ] in the basins of the ] and ] Rivers, ruling over northern ] and ] until second century BC.


Historians generally refer to this entire period as Gojoseon, but some classify ] and ] as separate periods. Historians generally refer to this entire period as Gojoseon.


==Founding legend== ==Founding legend==
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Bronze daggers, and mirrors have been excavated from the Korean bronze age. Bronze was employed as weaponry and helped in the conquest of Neolithic communities. Archeological evidence of walled-town states are found from this time. Bronze daggers, and mirrors have been excavated from the Korean bronze age. Bronze was employed as weaponry and helped in the conquest of Neolithic communities. Archeological evidence of walled-town states are found from this time.


], the uncle of the last King of the ] state, entered the west of Gojoseon and introduced the culture of Yin around the 11th century BC. Gojoseon clashed with the ] during China's ] (475-221 BC), and lost the territories west of the Liao River to the ] people in the third century BC, before winning it back. By this time, iron culture was developing and the warring states pushed the refugees eastward. ], the uncle of the last King of the ] state, settled in the west of Gojoseon and introduced the culture of Yin around the 11th century BC. Gojoseon clashed with the ] during China's ] (475-221 BC), and lost the territories west of the Liao River to the ] people in the third century BC, before winning it back. By this time, iron culture was developing and the warring states pushed the refugees eastward.


Around this time, ] existed in the southern part of the Korean peninsula. Very little is known about this state, except it was the apparent predecessor to the ] confederacies. Around this time, ] existed in the southern part of the Korean peninsula. Very little is known about this state, except it was the apparent predecessor to the ] confederacies.

Revision as of 23:13, 10 December 2005

Template:Koreanname hanja noimage Gojoseon ("ancient" Joseon, to distinguish from the later Joseon Dynasty) was the first Korean Empire. According to legend, it was founded in 2333 BC by Dangun in the basins of the Liao and Taedong Rivers, ruling over northern Korean peninsula and Manchuria until second century BC.

Historians generally refer to this entire period as Gojoseon.

Founding legend

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Dangun Wanggeom is the legendary founder of Korea. The oldest existing record of this founding myth appears in the Samguk Yusa, a 13th-century collection of legends and stories. A similar account is found in Jewang Ungi.

Dangun's ancestry begins with his grandfather Hwanin (환인; 桓因;), the "Lord of Heaven" (a name which also appears in Indian Buddhist texts). Hwanin had a son Hwanung who yearned to live on the earth among the valleys and the mountains. Hwanin chose Mount Taebaek for his son to settle down in and sent him with 3,000 helpers to rule the earth and provide humans with great happiness. Hwanung descended to Mount Taebaek and founded a city, which he named Sinsi (신시; 神市), or "City of God." Along with his ministers of clouds, rain, and wind, he instituted laws and moral codes and taught the humans various arts, medicine, and agriculture.

A tiger and a bear living in a cave together prayed to Hwanung that they may become human. Upon hearing their prayers, Hwanung called them to him and gave them 20 cloves of garlic and a bundle of mugwort. He then ordered them to only eat this sacred food and remain out of the sunlight for 100 days. The tiger shortly gave up and left the cave. However, the bear remained and after 21 days was transformed into a woman.

The bear-woman (Ungnyeo; 웅녀; 熊女) was very grateful and made offerings to Hwanung. She lacked a husband, however, and soon became sad and prayed beneath a sandalwood tree to be blessed with a child. Hwanung, moved by her prayers, took her for his wife and soon she gave birth to a son, who was named Dangun Wanggeom (단군 왕검; 檀君王儉).

Dangun ascended to the throne as the Emperor of Korea in the 50th year of the reign of the Emperor Yao (the legendary Chinese sage Yao), the year of Gengyin, built the walled city of P'yŏngyang, and called the state Joseon. He then moved his capital to Asadal on Mount Baegak (or Mount Gunghol). 1,500 years later, in the year Kimyo, King Wu of the Zhou Dynasty enfeoffed Gija to west of Joseon, and Dangun moved his capital to Jangdangyeong. Finally, he returned to Asadal and became a mountain god at the age of 1,908.

History

Gojoseon is said to have been established in 2333 BC, based on the description of the Dongguk Tonggam (1485), but the date differs among historical sources; nevertheless, all of them put it during Yao's reign (traditional dates: 2357 BC-2256 BC). Samguk Yusa says Dangun ascended to the throne in the 50th year of Yao's reign, while Sejong Sillok says the first year and Dongguk Tonggam says the 25th year.

The people of Gojoseon are called in Chinese records Dong-i, "eastern bowmen," belonging to the Tungusic family and linguistically affiliated with the Altaic. They propagated in Manchuria, far eastern China, north of the Yangtze River, and the Korean Peninsula. Gojoseon eventually consolidated in Manchuria and the Korean Peninsula, and was praised by Confucius and Mencius for the decorum of its people. However, it was called arrogant and cruel by the Yan.

There are evidences that Bronze Age began around 2600 - 24000 BC in Korea. Rice, red beans, soybeans and millet were cultivated, and rectangular huts and increasingly larger dolmen burial sites are found throughout the peninsula. Around 2000 BC, a new pottery culture is evidenced, with painted designs, in Manchuria and northern Korea.

Bronze daggers, and mirrors have been excavated from the Korean bronze age. Bronze was employed as weaponry and helped in the conquest of Neolithic communities. Archeological evidence of walled-town states are found from this time.

Gija, the uncle of the last King of the Yan state, settled in the west of Gojoseon and introduced the culture of Yin around the 11th century BC. Gojoseon clashed with the Zhou during China's Warring States Period (475-221 BC), and lost the territories west of the Liao River to the Yan people in the third century BC, before winning it back. By this time, iron culture was developing and the warring states pushed the refugees eastward.

Around this time, Jin-guk existed in the southern part of the Korean peninsula. Very little is known about this state, except it was the apparent predecessor to the Samhan confederacies.

Among the Yan refugees, Wiman entered the service of Gija State as military commander with a base west of the Liao River. He usurped control from King Jun of Gija in 194 BC.

In 109 BC, the Han emperor Wuti began a massive invasion of Gija State west of the Liao River. Gija fell after over a year of warfare, and four Chinese commanderies were set up in southwestern Manchuria: Lelang (樂浪) (Korean: Nangnang), Xuantu (玄菟) (Hyeondo), Zhenfan (真番) (Jinbeon), and Lintun (臨屯) (Imdun).

Numerous small states and confederations arose from the remaining territory of Gojoseon during 2nd Century BC. Three of the Chinese commanderies fell quickly to the Koreans of Gojoseon origin, and the last, Lolang (Korean: Nangnang) was destroyed by Goguryeo in 313. Thus Koreans reclaimed all of the ancient territory of Gojoseon.

Annals of Danguns

Hwandan-gogi is a controversial text said to detail ancient Korean history, but its authenticity has been widely questioned. It appears to be partly based on other known "alternative history" texts. The Annals of the Danguns are recorded in Gyuwon Sahwa (1675), which is described by its author as a nationalistic, rather than mainstream, history.

  1. Dangun Wanggeom BC 2333-BC 2240
  2. Dangun Buru BC 2240-BC 2182
  3. Dangun Garuk BC 2182-BC 2137
  4. Dangun Osagu BC 2137-BC 2099
  5. Dangun Gueul BC 2099-BC 2083
  6. Dangun Dalmun BC 2083-BC 2047
  7. Dangun Hanyul BC 2047-BC 1993
  8. Dangun Useohan BC 1993-BC 1985
  9. Dangun Asul BC 1985-BC 1950
  10. Dangun Noeul BC 1950-BC 1891
  11. Dangun Dohae BC 1891-BC 1834
  12. Dangun Ahan BC 1834-BC 1782
  13. Dangun Holdal (a.k.a. Daeumdal) BC 1782-BC 1721
  14. Dangun Gobul BC 1721-BC 1661
  15. Dangun Daeum (a.k.a. Huhuldal) BC 1661-BC 1610
  16. Dangun Wina BC 1610-BC 1552
  17. Dangun Yeoul BC 1552-BC 1484
  18. Dangun Dongum BC 1484-BC 1435
  19. Dangun Gumoso BC 1435-BC 1380
  20. Dangun Sotae BC 1337-BC 1285
  21. Dangun Saekbullu BC 1285-BC 1237
  22. Dangun Aheul BC 1237-BC 1161
  23. Dangun Solna BC 1150-BC 1062
  24. Dangun Churo BC 1062-BC 997
  25. Dangun Dumil BC 997-BC 971
  26. Dangun Haemo BC 971-BC 943
  27. Dangun Mahyu BC 943-BC 909
  28. Dangun Naehyu BC 909-BC 874
  29. Dangun Deungol BC 874-BC 849
  30. Dangun Chumil BC 849-BC 819
  31. Dangun Gammul BC 819-BC 795
  32. Dangun Orumun BC 795-BC 772
  33. Dangun Sabeol BC 772-BC 704
  34. Dangun Maeruk BC 704-BC 646
  35. Dangun Mamul BC 646-BC 590
  36. Dangun Damul BC 590-BC 545
  37. Dangun Duhol BC 545-BC 509
  38. Dangun Daleum BC 509-BC 491
  39. Dangun Umcha BC 491-BC 471
  40. Dangun Uleuji BC 471-BC 461
  41. Dangun Mulli BC 461-BC 425
  42. Dangun Gumul BC 425-BC 396
  43. Dangun Yeoru BC 396-BC 341
  44. Dangun Boeul BC 341-BC 295
  45. Dangun Goyeolga BC 295-BC 237

See also

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